Thursday, 14 March 2019

MDC secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora has dismissed claims
that he is settling for the deputy presidency at the party’s forthcoming
congress in May, the latest hint that he is preparing to challenge Nelson
Chamisa for the leadership of the party.

The two have previously locked horns in 2014, with Mwonzora
soundly beating Chamisa for the secretary-general position that year.

In an interview yesterday, Mwonzora said he would not be
swayed from contesting any position, but maintained that he would, however,
make the announcement at an appropriate time.

“What is being circulated is false,” he said.

“When the right time comes, the people shall know which
post I am contesting at congress. There are so many stories being manufactured
by people. I am very clear that the MDC is a democratic party, where people
chose their leaders.”

Mwonzora said no position would be ring-fenced, including
the presidency.

The MDC secretary-general claimed some unknown persons
placed suspicious liquid, believed to be juju, in his parliamentary pigeon hole
on Tuesday, stroking fears of witchcraft ahead of the party’s elective congress
in May.

Mwonzora said he reported the matter to security at
Parliament, but was unfazed by the incident.

“I went to Parliament and I then decided to check my mail
at the pigeon hole and there were two police officers in that room,” Mwonzora
said.

“As I approached my pigeon hole, I discovered that there
was a plastic bottle with a strange-looking liquid and it was half full. I
asked the police officers about it and they didn’t know who had put it there.

“I then alerted the Parliament security, but I don’t know
what they did with it. I didn’t touch it.”

Mwonzora said he does not feel threatened.

“Whoever put it there either intended to threaten me with
these superstitions, but it is strange that some people will find time to put
that into my pigeon hole. I don’t know what the liquid is,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Clerk of Parliament Kennedy
Chokuda were not successful as his mobile went unanswered, while those in the
security department said they are not authorised to speak to the Press.

However, MDC deputy president Elias Mudzuri and leader of
the opposition in Senate said such acts were unfortunate and must be condemned.

“I haven’t heard anything concerning that, but if he saw
something suspicious, I hope he will get assistance to remove that. I hope
there is no witch-hunting at Parliament. As parliamentarians, we are honourable
members and we must not start looking for witchcraft. It is not proper, why
should it happen?” he said.

“If it happened, then it is unfortunate that we are
stooping so low and we are fighting over useless things. We must be honourable
members and that requires certain behaviour.

“This incident is unfortunate and if someone is doing that,
they are not serious. We will end up concentrating on suspicion and unknown
fears. If there are people doing that, they must stop it. It is not good.”

The party’s organising secretary Amos Chibaya refused to
comment on the matter. Newsday